How to Get a Master's Degree in Hospitality Management

Affordable air travel and mass tourism have made the world smaller--and the hospitality industry bigger. Global tourism has been growing at a rate of about 4 percent a year, according to the UN World Tourism Organization, with 2008 revenue reaching $944 billion. The hospitality industry accounts for nearly ten percent of world GDP and employs an estimated 219 million people worldwide.

A master's degree in hospitality management is a ticket into a supervisory or leadership role in a hotel, resort, food service, or event planning business. The degree takes one or two years to complete and is designed for mid-career professionals. Online master's programs in hospitality management are especially adult-friendly, allowing students to earn a master's degree online without taking time out from their careers.

WorldWideLearn.com's guide to the master's in hospitality management helps you prepare for graduate study. Define your ambitions, find the academic resources, and plan an academic journey that reflects your career aspirations.

Guide to Master's Degrees in Hospitality Management

Hospitality management unites business and tourism, bringing together diverse fields such as marketing, geography, and event planning. The graduate degree, a requirement for many management roles, teaches you to lead effectively in the competitive tourism industry. Learn marketing strategy, tourism product development, facility management, critical customer service best practices, and more. Hospitality management is an applied business specialty, but it also engages wide-ranging expertise relevant to tourism: environmental sustainability, cultural and geographical knowledge, and design savvy.

To learn more about the field, see WorldWideLearn.com's Guide to College Majors in Hospitality Management.

Master's Degree Options

There's more than one road to a graduate degree in hospitality management. The following master's degree options answer different professional needs. Each offers a distinct take on hospitality management, approaching the field as either a social science discipline or an applied management specialty.

• Master of Science (MS): The MS in hospitality management emphasizes social science research alongside applied business education. Modeled after academic social science degrees, the MS invites specialization and culminates in an original research project. The degree is ideal for aspiring academics and managers looking to deepen their expertise in a specific area.
• Master of Business Administration (MBA): The MBA program cultivates a broad foundation in management skills before turning to hospitality issues. The concentration in hospitality management features hospitality electives, case studies, and a capstone research project.
• Master of Management in Hospitality (MMH): The MMH is a specialized business degree focusing on the applied management skills relevant to running a hotel or hospitality business. Available as an executive or standard master's degree, the MMH is ideal for mid-career hospitality managers who want to build their credentials and develop hospitality-specific management competencies.

Learn more about your master's degree options at WorldWideLearn.com's The Master's Degree Explained.

Specializations in Hospitality Management

All master's degrees offer the opportunity to specialize. The MBA curriculum typically incorporates specialized training in the form of elective courses, case studies, and internships. The academic MS in hospitality management goes a step further, requiring students to complete a research project or thesis on a specific problem in hospitality.

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How to Get a Master's Degree in Hospitality Management

Affordable air travel and mass tourism have made the world smaller--and the hospitality industry bigger. Global tourism has been growing at a rate of about 4 percent a year, according to the UN World Tourism Organization, with 2008 revenue reaching $944 billion. The hospitality industry accounts for nearly ten percent of world GDP and employs an estimated 219 million people worldwide.

A master's degree in hospitality management is a ticket into a supervisory or leadership role in a hotel, resort, food service, or event planning business. The degree takes one or two years to complete and is designed for mid-career professionals. Online master's programs in hospitality management are especially adult-friendly, allowing students to earn a master's degree online without taking time out from their careers.

WorldWideLearn.com's guide to the master's in hospitality management helps you prepare for graduate study. Define your ambitions, find the academic resources, and plan an academic journey that reflects your career aspirations.

Guide to Master's Degrees in Hospitality Management

Hospitality management unites business and tourism, bringing together diverse fields such as marketing, geography, and event planning. The graduate degree, a requirement for many management roles, teaches you to lead effectively in the competitive tourism industry. Learn marketing strategy, tourism product development, facility management, critical customer service best practices, and more. Hospitality management is an applied business specialty, but it also engages wide-ranging expertise relevant to tourism: environmental sustainability, cultural and geographical knowledge, and design savvy.

To learn more about the field, see WorldWideLearn.com's Guide to College Majors in Hospitality Management.

Master's Degree Options

There's more than one road to a graduate degree in hospitality management. The following master's degree options answer different professional needs. Each offers a distinct take on hospitality management, approaching the field as either a social science discipline or an applied management specialty.

• Master of Science (MS): The MS in hospitality management emphasizes social science research alongside applied business education. Modeled after academic social science degrees, the MS invites specialization and culminates in an original research project. The degree is ideal for aspiring academics and managers looking to deepen their expertise in a specific area.
• Master of Business Administration (MBA): The MBA program cultivates a broad foundation in management skills before turning to hospitality issues. The concentration in hospitality management features hospitality electives, case studies, and a capstone research project.
• Master of Management in Hospitality (MMH): The MMH is a specialized business degree focusing on the applied management skills relevant to running a hotel or hospitality business. Available as an executive or standard master's degree, the MMH is ideal for mid-career hospitality managers who want to build their credentials and develop hospitality-specific management competencies.

Learn more about your master's degree options at WorldWideLearn.com's The Master's Degree Explained.

Specializations in Hospitality Management

All master's degrees offer the opportunity to specialize. The MBA curriculum typically incorporates specialized training in the form of elective courses, case studies, and internships. The academic MS in hospitality management goes a step further, requiring students to complete a research project or thesis on a specific problem in hospitality.

Hospitality management specializations generally focus on a particular business context:

• Hotel management
• Food service management
• Event planning management
• Tourism management
• Sports & leisure facilities management

The applied curriculum covers marketing strategy, feasibility studies, enterprise technology, financial management, hospitality law, accounting, and budgeting. In addition, each specialization features specific topics such as food production and safety, sustainable tourism, facility design, and international management.

Career Tracks

A master's in hospitality management typically leads to a professional career managing a hotel, restaurant, event planning business, or other hospitality enterprise. Competition for these jobs is high, but managers with a graduate degree should fare well on the job market. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports: "People with a college degree in hotel or hospitality management are expected to have better opportunities, particularly at upscale and luxury hotels."

Alternate hospitality management career options include strategy consulting and teaching. A master's degree can lead to a PhD in hospitality management, which qualifies you for a career as a university professor or researcher.

Once you've defined a career trajectory, you're ready to line up the academic resources to reach your goal. The following steps take you through the stages of preparing for a master's degree, from researching programs to submitting applications and building an academic network.

Find the Right Master's Degree Program

The increasing diversity in graduate hospitality management programs means that you're likely to find a program that fits your goals, interests, and life circumstances perfectly. It's possible to earn a master's degree online or on campus, via an academic or professional program, in an accelerated time frame or at your own pace. Find the program that matches your needs by following these steps:

Step One: List Accredited MBA or MS in Hospitality Management Programs

Start by accessing lists of schools with accredited hospitality management degrees. Accreditation is a baseline indicator of quality; it not only ensures the value of your degree, but also qualifies you for financial aid programs. The U.S. Department of Education Web site posts a searchable database of approved accreditation agencies.

Resources
The Council on Hotel, Restaurant, and Institutional Education (CHRIE) publishes an authoritative guide to accredited programs in hospitality and tourism, the Guide to College Programs in Hospitality, Tourism, & Culinary Arts, Ninth Edition.

WorldWideLearn.com features links to accredited campus and online master's degrees in hospitality management, including both online MBA and online master's degrees.

For MBA programs with a concentration in hospitality management, search the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business's online database of business schools. The AACSB is the preeminent accreditor of MBA and MHM degrees.

The Sloan Consortium represents distance education programs nationwide. Search the organization's list of online master's degrees in various business fields, including hospitality management.

Step Two: Choose Program Format: Campus or Online Master's Degree?

Whether you're a busy returning student or a recent undergraduate dependent on campus facilities, program format can be a non-negotiable factor in deciding where to study.

• Online: Many working professionals rely on the online format for access to higher education. The ability to earn a master's degree online allows returning students to keep their jobs and manage family responsibilities alongside the master's degree program.
• Campus: On the other hand, campus degrees feature the advantage of local access--access to faculty, research facilities, peers, and networking events. Students not already established in a hospitality management may benefit from the professional networking opportunities and advanced facilities of a campus program.

Ultimately, the decision to earn a master's degree online or on campus depends on your life circumstances, career ambitions, and learning style.

Resources

WorldWideLearn.com organizes your hospitality management program options by format, presenting both Online Degree Programs and Campus Education sections. For campus degrees, search Degrees by Location.

Step Three: Explore Academic Programs

Next, take a close look at the academic resources each program offers. Your career goals and specialization interests can help you determine which program best aligns with your requirements.

Academic program features include:

• Degree type: Do you want to earn an MBA, MHM, or MS in hospitality management?
• Curriculum: Take into account core courses, electives, and specialization options.
• Degree format and requirements: Degree format varies widely, particularly among MS and MBA programs. Research and capstone requirements accompany the more traditional or academic programs. Case studies, internships, and group presentations are typical of applied business degrees.
• Faculty: Look for faculty with publications and research projects in your field of interest.
• Industry relationships: Networking and recruiting events indicate strong ties to local industry.
• Student environment: A supportive, collegial environment enhances your learning experience and networking opportunities.

Resources
WorldWideLearn.com accelerates the research process by matching you with schools that meet your requirements. Investigate online grad schools or arrange to be contacted by a school representative.

School Web sites are goldmines of information about faculty and program resources, with links to publications, CVs, special programs and internships, course descriptions and reading lists, and more.

Informational interviews with current students and alumni can give you an inside perspective on the graduate student experience and the long-term value of the degree. If possible, visit campus in person (whether or not you plan to earn a master's degree online), where you can meet with faculty and tour campus facilities.

Step Four: Evaluate Program Quality

Finally, rank your top six to ten schools, taking into account quality and selectivity. Choose a selection of schools that meet your quality standards and admit students with your academic profile. Your undergraduate academic record and standardized test scores help determine the strength of your application.

Take into account these factors in building your final list of schools:

• Reputation and selectivity
• Job placement and salary statistics
• Student background, including years of industry experience

Resources


Admissions departments collect student data at every stage of the graduate school experience, from admissions to placement. Ask an admissions counselor to see average admitted students' GPA and test scores, job placement statistics, and student demographics, including work experience.

Rankings give you a general sense of the program's reputation. Influential publications include U.S. News & World Report, Best Business Schools: Management and BusinessWeek, Business School Rankings & Profiles.

Apply to Graduate Hospitality Management Programs

Apply to Graduate Hospitality Management Programs

Once you have a list of schools, the application process becomes a matter of completing requirements, following instructions, and meeting deadlines. Expect to encounter these three steps:

Step One; Complete Prerequisites

Eligibility for a master's in hospitality management generally requires:

• A bachelor's degree in hospitality, business, or a related field.
• Prerequisite courses, if your undergraduate degree didn't incorporate basic hospitality or business training.
• Standardized tests, including the GMAT (business schools) or GRE (academic programs), and TOEFL for international students.
• Work experience is a plus in some programs, particularly executive hospitality management MBAs.

WorldWideLearn.com's Education Resources Guide helps you meet these prerequisites, with test preparation resources, prerequisite courses, and online learning tools.

Step Two: Prepare Application Materials

Most schools provide a link to the application online. Simply fill out the information form and submit these documents:

• Academic transcripts
• Letters of recommendation (usually three)
• Test scores
• Personal essay or statement of research interests
• Resume or CV

Begin your applications well in advance to ensure that the admissions committee receives all materials in time.

Step Three: Finance Your Master's in Hospitality Management

Your MBA or MS in hospitality management is a valuable investment in your future. Financial aid helps you cover the cost of your education now so you can reap the benefits later. Universities, government agencies, and private foundations are common sources of graduate student funding. Your funding options include

• Grants and scholarships
• Teaching assistantships
• Employer tuition assistance
• Low-interest student loans

You can also reduce the cost of your education by opting to earn a master's degree online instead. Online grad schools enable you to keep your regular job while you work toward the degree.

Resources

• Meet with financial aid advisors at your top schools to determine the best strategy for covering educational expenses.
• Fill out a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). This comprehensive application covers all federal financial aid programs, from Pell Grants to Stafford Loans.
• Ask your company about tuition grants or other educational incentives.

Build an Academic Network

The old adage holds true in college as in business: it's not just what you know, but whom you know. The people you meet in graduate school will enrich your education and your professional prospects.

Join Professional Associations

The International Council on Hotel, Restaurant, and Institutional Education (CHRIE) hosts networking events and conferences for academics. The American Hotel & Lodging Association offers a networking forum for industry professionals.

Read Trade Journals

Journals offer a window into trends and recent research in your field of interest. Major publications include:

• International Journal of Hospitality Management
• Hospitality, Travel & Tourism Management
• Tourism Management
• Journal of Hospitality and Tourism Education (JHTE)
• Journal of Hospitality and Tourism Research (JHTR)
• Research Journal of Hospitality and Tourism
• Cornell Hotel and Restaurant Administration Quarterly

Attend Networking Events and Conferences

Look for social events, university lectures, and conferences to meet both academic and industry peers.

In addition to these academic networking strategies, you can also pursue professional roles in the months leading up to the first day of class. If you are not already working in hospitality, look into internships with local hotels or tourism businesses. The experience you gain can bring valuable perspective to your management studies.

A graduate hospitality management program can feel like a whirlwind of opportunity--information to learn, people to meet, research projects, internships, and recruiting. Preparing for the experience ensures that you're prepared to take advantage of the opportunities that come your way. With a clear sense of your professional trajectory, graduate school can transform you into a leader in the hospitality industry.

Sources

• AACSB Accredited Business Schools Database, AACSB International, The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business.
• Accreditation Commission for Programs in Hospitality Administration (ACPHA).
• A Guide to College Programs in Hospitality, Tourism, & Culinary Arts, Ninth Edition. International Council on Hotel, Restaurant, and Institutional Education.
• Best Business Schools: Management, U.S. News & World Report (2009).
• Bosselman, Robert H and Clayton W. Barrows, eds. Graduate Programs in Hospitality Management Education. New York: Haworth Hospitality Press, 1999.
• Business School Rankings & Profiles, BusinessWeek (2009).
• Database of Accredited Post-secondary Institutions and Programs, U.S. Department of Education.
• Lodging Managers, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2010-2011 Edition, Bureau of Labor Statistics.
• Master of Business Administration with a Hospitality Management Concentration, Keller Graduate School of Management.
• Master of Management in Hospitality, Cornell University School of Hotel Administration.
• Master of Science in Hospitality Management, Distance Program, Florida International University.
• Programs in Business and Management, The Sloan Consortium.
• "Tourism and Hotels, 2009," QFinance.

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